Record timber harvests in Scotland

This year's timber harvest in Scotland is the highest on record. The most recent figures, for 2011, showed seven and a half million cubic metres were harvested, up half a million on the previous year. This year is expected to show further rises. The increase has allowed Scotland's sawmills to produce seven per cent more timber and prices for timber have risen by two per cent. Welcoming the news Scotland's Environment and Climate Change Minister, Stewart Stevenson, said,

South west Scotland provides a large part of the country's timber industry. Nationwide the sector contributes £670 million to the Scottish economy and provides 31,000 jobs.

John Dougan from the forestry commission says the success is twofold:

BSW timber yard in Dalbeattie is the largest in the UK and one of the most advanced. Computer technology helps to make the most of the timber in the quickest possible time. It also has the fastest saw mill line in the UK. What's happened in recent years is that companies like this have managed to snatch more and more of the market that used to go to European firms. Ian Murchie from BSW spoke to our correspondent Tim Backshall:

John Dougan from the Forestry Commission adds that there has been investment into the industry so the future of the industry is also bright.